We have all been experiencing unprecedented times for more than a year now as the covid-19 global pandemic has resulted in the cancellation of the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes for 2020 and 2021 but at least some competitive cricket was played at Gymkhana Club in Chiang Mai during what was planned to be Sixes Week 2021 and it was Pattaya CC who took the honours by winning the Chiang Mai Big Bash for the second year in a row.
At the end of an incident packed weekend, the Chiang Mai Sixes Committee were able to announce the proposed dates for the 2022 Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes which will now be held from Sunday 3rd April to Saturday 9th April 2022
The Chiang Mai Big Bash 2021 had to deal with a number of challenges which saw the number of teams reduced to four and areas of the ground under water on the Sunday morning but Pattaya CC and Lord of the Beers joined local teams from Lanna CC and Lamphun in an exciting two-day competition.
All four eight-aside teams played three 10-over matches in a league format and defending champions Pattaya were beaten by Lanna in their opening match but recovered superbly to beat the same opposition in the final even after losing their first two wickets without a run on the board. Lamphun finished third as they defeated Lord of the Beers who proved very popular visitors after also travelling from Pattaya.
The Chiang Mai Big Bash was played very much in the spirit of the Chiang Mai Sixes with some familiar Sixes players involved and the tournament was able to meet every challenge, whether from another outbreak of covid-19 or from torrential rain that left the ground flooded on the Sunday morning.
We are now all hoping that in one year’s time we will be gathering together again to play the 33rd edition of the Chiang Mai International Cricket Sixes which is now scheduled to be held from 3rd to 9th April 2022 at Gymkhana Club in Chiang Mai. We all need something to look forward to and the 2021 Chiang Mai Big Bash had shown what could be achieved against all the odds.